Peruvian minister advocates for worker wellbeing
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In Lima, Peru, Minister of Labor and Employment Promotion Juan Sheput stated that work should not harm people’s lives or health, and urged action to prevent occupational illnesses from pushing families into poverty.
He made this statement while opening the 115th Ordinary Session of the National Council for Safety and Health at Work.
Sheput strongly called for an end to the belief that workplace safety and health represent a cost for employers, asserting that protecting workers is a fundamental right and a cornerstone of the labor world. He explained that the International Labour Organization shares this view, and prioritises worker wellbeing. The minister also warned about the social consequences of workplace risks and chronic illnesses.
He noted that in Peru, a family that escapes poverty can quickly fall back into it if a family member, a key household provider, becomes sick or injured on the job. Sheput announced the Ministry is working to restore the authority of the National Labour Inspection Superintendency to oversee micro and small businesses in the regions, a power previously removed by the Congress.
While awaiting a bill to reinstate this authority, the Ministry is establishing technical assistance agreements with regional governments in Lima, Tumbes, and La Libertad to ensure continued labor inspection and guidance. The ministry also plans to publish the Protocol for Psychosocial Risk soon.
